And got the hospital operator to give him the house in Long Beach, the phone in

the comer office room. Sonny answered. Michael whispered, "Sonny, I'm down at

the hospital, I came down late. Sonny, there's nobody here. None of Tessio's

people. No detectives at the door. The old man was completely unprotected." His

Voice was trembling.

8 There was a long silence and then Sonny's voice came, low and impressed,

"This is Sollozzo's move you were talking about."

9 Michael said, "That's what I figured too. But how did he get the cops to clear

everybody out and where did they go? What happened to Tessio's men? Jesus

Christ, has that bastard Sollozzo got the New York Police Department in his

pocket too?"

10"Take it easy, kid." Sonny's voice was soothing. "We got lucky again with you

going to visit the hospital so late. Stay in the old man's room. Lock the door from

the inside. I'll have some men there inside of fifteen minutes, soon as I make

some calls. Just sit tight and don't panic. OK, kid?"

11 "I won't panic," Michael said. For the first time since it had all started he felt a

furious anger rising in him, a cold hatred for his father's enemies.

He hung up the phone and rang the buzzer for the nurse. He decided to use

his own judgment and disregard Sonny's orders. When the nurse came in he said,

"I don't want you to get frightened, but we have to move my father right away. To